New Delhi [India], October 31 (ANI): India will take part within the upcoming Malabar naval train alongside the United States, Japan, and Australia, with the Indian Navy confirming the deployment of a Shivalik-class stealth warship to Guam within the US at some stage in the drills.
‘We are collaborating in Exercise Malabar, and our warship, which is a Shivalik-class warship, will probably be in Guam within the US, and will probably be there for your entire interval of the train,’ the Indian Navy stated on Friday.
India is about to hitch the subsequent version of the Malabar train in Guam in November, marking one other step in strengthening the operational coordination between the Quad nations India, the US, Japan, and Australia.
The train will happen at Guam, a US island territory positioned within the western Pacific Ocean, roughly midway between Japan and Australia. The area serves as a key maritime hub for Indo-Pacific safety cooperation.
Originally a bilateral train between India and the United States, Malabar progressively expanded to incorporate Japan and later Australia, bringing all 4 Quad companions into one of many Indo-Pacific’s most vital naval collaborations. Though the Quad just isn’t a army alliance, the train serves as a platform to strengthen maritime safety and uphold freedom of navigation within the area.
India can also be scheduled to host the subsequent Quad summit, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese not too long ago reaffirming the grouping’s significance for regional cooperation throughout his go to to Malaysia for the ASEAN discussion board.
‘The Quad is a crucial discussion board and an necessary car for us to interact Australia, the United States, Japan and India. I’m hopeful there will probably be a gathering within the first quarter of subsequent 12 months. Prime Minister Modi is because of host the Quad assembly,’ Albanese stated in Kuala Lumpur.
Separately, the Indian Navy introduced that it’ll organise the International Fleet Review (IFR) in Visakhapatnam in February 2026, the place President Droupadi Murmu will evaluate the fleet. The occasion will function India’s indigenous plane provider, INS Vikrant, in addition to Kalvari-class submarines, and participation from over 50 nations, together with the United States and Russia.
Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral (VAdm) Sanjay Vatsayan stated, ‘Both the US and Russia have confirmed participation within the worldwide fleet evaluate and Milan train. They can be sending their ships. Some plane are additionally anticipated.
Addressing the press briefing, he added that a lot of nations had been invited to the occasion and that over 50 nations have expressed their willingness to attend the IFR, Milan train, in addition to the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
‘We have prolonged invitations to a lot of nations, and to this point, we’ve acquired responses from over 55 nations which have expressed their willingness to attend all three occasions. A really giant variety of navies are additionally collaborating via high-level delegations along with sending their ships. However, as you might be conscious, we nonetheless have 4 months to go. These numbers will change as extra confirmations are acquired. And as geopolitics evolves, we can not predict what’s going to occur in 7 or 15 days. So there will probably be a change within the numbers. However, we’re undoubtedly anticipating greater than 55. And sure, each the United States in addition to Russia are collaborating. They have indicated that they are going to be sending their ships, and we’re additionally anticipating some plane, perhaps, but it surely’s nonetheless work in progress,’ he stated.
Vice Admiral Vatsayan additionally addressed the presence of overseas powers within the Indian Ocean area, stating that the Navy is consistently vigilant and screens each vessel operation within the Indian Ocean area, in addition to being conscious of challenges throughout all spectrum.
‘There is a steady presence of extra-regional powers within the Indian Ocean area because of the ongoing scenario. It has at all times been that, and it is solely rising. At any given cut-off date, we’ve a minimal of 40, and typically much more than 50, ships working within the Indian Ocean area. To guarantee all of you, we’re monitoring every certainly one of them. We are conscious of what they’re doing, what they’re prone to do, once they are available, once they exit, and many others. Challenges stay. You’ve seen what has occurred in Madagascar. However, the underside line stays that the Indian Ocean is the first supply of products and oil transit for the world. That doesn’t change. And with it, it brings its related challenges with respect to each conventional and non-traditional points. It is throughout the spectrum that we take a look at, from piracy to human trafficking to medication and so forth. These challenges are current, and we’re conscious of them. We are prepared to fulfill any contingency,’ he stated. (ANI)